Track detector



June 28 G. C. CLEVELAND 2 shoots-Shut 1 TRACK nmacron Filed May 8, 1924 June 1927' G. c. CLEVELAND TRACK DETECTOR Filed May 8, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Application filed May a,

Patented June 28, 1927.

PATENT OFFI E.

GEORGE CLEVELAND, OFCLEVELAND, OHIO.

TRACK DETECTOR.

This invention relates to means through which to detect imperfections in the rails of railway tracks, and particularly to a means that will facilitate observation of the under surfaces of rail heads vor other portions which are normally obscured from the view of the inspector or operative whose duty it is to detect the same.

The invention proceeds upon the principle of mounting, in relation to travel upon the rail being inspected, a reflector or reflectors positioned to spector the normally obscured surfaces of the rail, the preferred embodiment of the invention involving also the feature of rendering the reflecting means movable at will, so that if normally held in a position that would cause it to encounter rail joints or other obstructionsto its travel along the rail, it may be quickly displaced in approaching such ob structions and promptly returned to effective position upon passing the same.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, the preferred embodiment thereof has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which' Figure 1 is a side elevation of a complete device embodying the several features of the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same with the controlling tongue or handle in section.

Figure 3 is a rear View with a portion of the handle removed.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4 4; of Figure l; and

Figure 5 is a detail View of a modified means for controlling the positions of the reflectors.

1 represents a truck or carriage provided with wheels 2, which adapt it to travel upon the normal tread of a railroad rail, and guide fingers 3 which resist lateral displacement from the rail. The carriage 1 may be conveniently propelled and controlled through means such as a handle 4. Cross arms 5 at the front and rear ends of the carriage 1, having depending arms 6, aflordpivotal support at points 7 for mirrors 8 that extend downwardly and inwardly toward the web of the rail and beneath the overhanging portion of the ball or head of the rail, and these mirrors are made to assume angles which will reflect views of the under surfaces of the rail head, as well as adjacent pertiens present to the view of the in- V position to 1924. Serial No. 711,924.

g the eye of the observer, so that as thecarriage is propelled along the rai'l,the rail may be observed not only'with respect to its surfaces normally exposed to view, but those surfaces which are normally unobservable from the position of one walk ing along the track. g

In order to control the angular positions of the mirrors '8, both in holding them at proper reflecting position and in position to avoid contact with track obstructions, they are connected by links 9 with levers 10 pivoted at 11 on one of the cross arms, and these levers are connected at intermediate points 12 through links 13 with connecting rod 14 which terminates in a handle 15 within convenient reach of the operator. The handle 15 may be resiliently held by means of a spring 16 in position to present the mirrors 8 at reflecting angles, or, as suggested in Figure 5, the rod 14 may be substituted by rod 14 that leads to a controlling lever 15 pivoted at 17 and held by pawl 18 in any position to which it mav be adiusted.

The guide fingers 3 are preferably mounted with lateral adjustment upon bracket arms 3 that extend from the wheel mountings 2, and these latter are supported with vertical adjustment through means of the threaded shanks 2 in the sockets 2 forming part of the frame of the carriage. r

I claim:

1. A track detector, comprising a carriage adapted to traverse a track rail, and reflecting means carried by said carriage in position to reflect to the view of an observer, at a position above the track, a surface of the rail being traversed, which is normally obscured from View; said reflecting means being movable upon the carriage at will to; establish such reflecting position, while traversing the rail, and means for manipulating said reflecting means extending from the reflecting means to within reach of the observer when at his position of observation.

2. A track detector, comprising a carriage adapted to traverse a track rail, a handle through which to control the carriage, and reflecting means carried by said carriage in reflect to the view of an observer surfaces of the rail being traversed which are normally obscured from view; means being provided for moving said reflecting means at will to and from reflecting position; said means being provided of the web, upward to with means extending,' to the handle through which to fix the angles at which the reflecting' means is held.

3. In a track detector, a carriage adapted to travel upon a track rail, a pair of mirrors pivoted on said carriage and movable upon trolling the pivotal action of said mirrors. 4. In a track detector, a carriage adapted to travel upon a track rail, pivoted on said'carriag'e and adapted to assume positions from which they reflect surfaces of the rail normally obscured from view, and means mounted on said carriage for controlling the pivotal action of said mirrors; said means comprising levers connected with said mirrors and a thrust rod extending from said levers to within reach of the operator.

Signed at Cleveland, Ohio, this 21 day of April, 1924.

GEORGE G. CLEVELAND.

a pair of mirrors 

